Top 5 Ultra Widescreen Monitors
Photo by Luke Peters on Unsplash
Having an ultra widescreen monitor on my desk has been a game-changer for the way I work. And I don't just mean for editing photos and videos, either...
I love having all that extra real estate when I'm doing boring work tasks, that way I can have multiple documents or windows open at the same time. No more flipping back and forth between windows!
It also helps streamline your workspace. I used to have two monitors plus a laptop on my desk, and now I have a stacked setup with an ultra widescreen monitor, a widescreen monitor above it, and my laptop. I don't have a huge desk (or a huge office, for that matter), so every inch of space I can save is a bonus.
But the question is, what are the top ultra widescreen monitors?
My picks are below.
ViewSonic VP3881 38" IPS UltraWide QHD+ Curved Monitor
Before when I was talking about having a stacked system of two monitors, I was referring to my new ViewSonic setup shown above.
These are the first ViewSonic monitors I've ever owned, and to say that I've been impressed is a huge understatement.
The one on the bottom is the 38-inch ultra widescreen version. The one on top is the ViewSonic VP3481 34-inch curved widescreen.
On both monitors, the color accuracy and sharpness is next-level good. When you spend a big chunk of your day editing photos and videos, color accuracy and sharpness are a must!
The curved 38-inch design is immersive, to say the least. I'm not a big gamer, but I downloaded a couple of games just to experience them on this monitor...and it did not disappoint.
Since this monitor has a color palette of 4.39 trillion colors, everything I view on it - photos, videos, documents, games - looks ultra-precise and lifelike. The fact that you can quickly and easily calibrate the monitor helps with the realistic and accurate view, too.
On top of all that, I love the frameless screen and the 21:9 aspect ratio. It truly is a magnificent view! Add in integrated speakers, 6-axis color enhancement, ViewSplit technology (which allows you to divide the screen into multiple windows), and a three-year limited warranty, and you have the makings of the best ultra widescreen monitor money can buy.
The 34-inch monitor offers excellent color and incredible detail too. It features the same 21:9 aspect ratio as the larger monitor. The 60Hz SuperClear IPS display is clean and crisp and a joy to look at all day long. If the 38-inch monitor is out of your price range, I recommend the 34-inch monitor as a great alternative.
I'll have a more detailed review on this monitor setup coming soon, so stay tuned for that!
Price: The 38-Inch VP3881 Ultra Widescreen Monitor is $1,019 on Adorama. The 34-inch VP3481 Widescreen Monitor is $699.99 on Adorama.
LG 34UC98-W 34-Inch 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD IPS Monitor
My old monitor was this guy, a 34-inch LG curved ultrawide.
Before ViewSonic came along, I was a die-hard LG monitor fan. And it's not that this was a bad monitor - far from it. It was my primary monitor for years and it worked perfectly for what I needed. But that's just how good the ViewSonic monitors are!
This monitor features a 21:9 aspect ratio, and with a curved QHD display, you get a beautifully immersive viewing experience.
I loved the on-screen control with this monitor - you can access a number of essential settings in an on-screen window for easy access. This is a great feature when you need to quickly adjust brightness, volume, and other settings.
This monitor also features a split screen function, which is great for multitasking. In fact, there are four different picture-in-picture modes and 14 options for how to display multiple windows simultaneously.
The colors on this monitor are outstanding, given that it uses the sRGB color space (with more than 99% coverage).
The monitor is height adjustable and tilt adjustable as well, so you can customize how you view it for the most comfortable viewing experience.
Price: $1,200 on Amazon
Editor's Tip: A high-quality monitor typically comes with a hefty price, but it's a price worth paying to have the ultimate viewing experience (and to save eye strain too!). If you have old photography gear lying around that you no longer use, you can sell it to help finance your new monitor! Gear Focus is my choice destination for selling old gear. It's a site built by creatives, for creatives, with a specific focus on building a community where you can buy and sell gear with complete confidence. Gear Focus makes it easy to list and sell your gear, and with built-in fraud protections, you get all kinds of peace of mind with each transaction. Head over to Gear Focus to see just how easy it is to get rid of your old photography gear!
Samsung C43J890 43" Super Ultra-Wide Curved 120Hz LED Monitor
Next on the list is this Samsung 43-inch ultrawide monitor.
At 43-inches, this is one of the largest monitors on this list - and all that real estate is a huge bonus for people that need to have multiple windows open.
The ultra-wide 32:10 aspect ratio means you get panoramic viewing with fewer bezels on the top and bottom of the screen. Speaking of the screen, the super curved VA panel was designed with an 1800mm radius, so the distance from the screen to your eyes is more uniform. This means less eye fatigue, which is certainly a bonus for creatives that spend hours and hours a day in front of their computers.
As you'd expect, there's split-screen and picture-in-picture capabilities. You can connect up to two different sources to the display and view them at the same time.
No matter how many screens you have open, this monitor has a smooth and crisp display that's easy on the eyes. If you're a gamer, you'll appreciate the 120Hz refresh rate that helps eliminate blur, ghosting, and lag.
This monitor also swivels, tilts, and is height-adjustable so you can ensure you have the most comfortable work environment.
Price: $899.99 on Adorama
Philips Brilliance 499P9H 49" SuperWide Curved Monitor
When Philips introduced this monitor, they weren't messing around in the size department.
At 49 inches, this thing is a beast - far too large for my desk. But I know some folks need a huge monitor (and have the space for one), and it's tough to beat this one if that's the case.
In all reality, this monitor is like having two monitors in one. When you split screen, you have so much horizontal space that each window is nice and big.
The 1800r curved display is not only easy on the eyes, but it also gives you an immersive viewing experience. That's true whether you're working on a document, editing a video, or playing a game.
Philips incorporated a KVM switch so you can easily switch between sources. There's also a built-in USB-C docking station for convenience. Perhaps the best part, though, is the DisplayHDR 400 technology, which gives this monitor clean, crips, and lifelike visuals with ultra-accurate colors.
This monitor even has a pop-up webcam that pops-up when it's enabled and tucks back into the monitor when you don't.
Price: $1,392.72 on Amazon
Dell U3818DW 37.5" Curved IPS LED Monitor
This 37.5-inch ultra widescreen curved display features a near-borderless design that gives you nearly a complete field of view.
The monitor achieves an almost uniform distance from your eyes such that eye strain is minimized. Likewise, this monitor is TUV-certified, and has a flicker-free screen with ComfortView that filters blue light emissions to maximize eye comfort. That makes this monitor a top choice if you suffer from eye strain due to long days staring at a screen.
It has a 21:9 aspect ratio, thereby giving you an all-encompassing widescreen experience as you work or play.
The integrated 9W speakers offer good sound quality for those projects that include audio. The screen color accuracy and sharpness is excellent for those photo and video-based projects. In fact, this monitor features 99% sRGB calibration to ensure the highest level of color accuracy.
It's one of the more expensive monitors on this list, but it's on this list for a reason - it offers excellent value for the money.
Price: $1,189 at Adorama
Honorable Mention: Sceptre C345W-2560UN 34-inch Curved Ultrawide 21:9 LED Monitor
While this monitor can't go toe-to-toe with the other monitors on this list, for the price, it is a surprisingly good monitor.
I bought this monitor for my wife, just as a stopgap measure while she's working at home. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but it has definitely impressed.
It has a 21:9 aspect ratio, a curved display, and up to a 100Hz refresh rate that allows images to change faster and more smoothly.
The Blue Light Shift reduces the amount of blue light, which is helpful for minimizing eye fatigue.
Do the colors and sharpness equal what you can get with my ViewSonic monitors? No, definitely not. But if you're on a tight budget, this monitor is an excellent choice for the money!
Price: $349.99 at Amazon